Fire-escape



(No Model.)

1H. BURKS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 288,304. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

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UNT-TED STATES JESSE H. BURKS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

.EPECIFICAIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,304, dated November 13, 188i?.

Application filed hl'nrch 29,1883. (No model.)

Toctl whom Al? may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE H. BURKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain newV and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates 4to providing a cheap, A

convenient, and practical means of escape from the upper parts of a building in case of rean instrument so compact that it may be placed at every window of a building without obstructing the room, ,and so small and light that it may be carried by persons traveling Similar letters refer to similar parts in theV two views.

My invention consists, essentially, of a case, oi' metal, or other suitable material, madein two parts, which are hinged together at K, Fig. 1, and containing within a roll of strong tape, to be paid out from the case as a person descends. The two parts of the case are of unequal dimensions, so that the center of the case falls in the part t, where there is a pin or axle, provided at one end with a crank or handle, by means of which the tape may be wound up. This crank maybe detachable or it may be made to fold up like the crank on the case of an ordinary tape-measure. 'Ihe upper end of the part Z1 is provided with two or more pins,

' around which thetape is passed to produce 'them firmly together he may stop at any desired point. The part b of the case is provided with a iiange on either side, (not shown in the drawings,) which project over the joint and cause the parts to close correctly. y There may be also a large-headed screw passing through aslot in the lower part of one section of the case and fixed in the other, so as to prevent the parts from being op cned too wide. For convenience, the handles E F may fold up against the case, as shown by v,the dotted line, when not in use. Aperson may let himself down by simply holding on to the handles E F; but for greater safety a net or belt is provided which can be attached to the lower part of the case .by means of the hooks L. In this net one or more persons may sit with safety and regulate their-descent by vmeans of the handles. When the appliance is introduced as a fixture, it maybe securely fastened to the window-casing orwall of a room, as shown in Fig. 1; but as a ready means of attaching it to any window or other convenient object, I have devised the hooked handled gimlet, Fig. 3, which, when driven into the wall or window-casing, makes a convenient and reliable attachment for the ring or link Pon the upper end of the tape O. The tape may be made of thin flexible steel, woven wire, silk, linen, or cotton, or, by a slight modification ofthe brake arrangement, a round wireV or cord might be used; but, believing it to be more reliable under all circumstances, I prefer a tape of linen, silk, or cotton, which may be rendered rire-proof by immersion in some one ofthe solutions used for that purpose.

I am aware that devices for this 'purpose have been used 'in which a cord or chain is drawn out from a case atl ached to the window or wall; but I am not aware that any device has been used in which the case containing the cord or tape is carried by the personinhis descent.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters IJatent,l is- 1. In fire-escapes, a portable case made in two parts, hinged togethenat the top, and provided with folding handles at the lower eX- tremity oi each part, as shown in Fig. 1, and containing within a coil of cord or tape.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination, with'a suitable casing having a tape-exit in its upper end, ofthe pins i J, secured in place below the exit-opening, and the tape stored within the casing and lpassed up over the pin t', and thence IOO down around pin J, and thence back over the pin z', the said tape lapping itself on the pin i and passing therefrom at an angle out of the exit-opening, whereby the device is automati- 5 cally braked in its descent, substantially asset ,forth.

3. In a lfire-escape, the combination, with thesection b, having tape-exit, and the pins z' J, secured in the upper portion of said section,

[o below and slightly to one side of the exit, and

the tape stored in section b and passed around the said pinsl in the manner described in its passage to the exit, land the pin/H, secured to a suitable support pivoted to the section Z, and

I 5 arranged in position to be forced against the tape in the upward passage of the latter from pin J t0 pin i, substantially as and for the.

purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the case composed of 2O the sections b c, the handles E F, the tape O,

the net or belt y, and the gimlet s, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination, substantially as described and shown, of the secgage lugs b c', whereby the said handles may be turned up against their respeotivesections, n

and are prevented from a ,downward motion beyond an approximately horizontal position, as and for the purposes specified.

JESSE H. BURKS.

lVitnesses:

F. I. SEYMOUR, E. T. BIcKNELL. 

